Electrode for therapeutic body-wear



(No Model.)

H. P. PRATT. ELECTRODE FOR THERAPEUTIG BODY WEAR.

Patented July 2 u rnzns, PhotvL-Rhugnphur. Washmmn, n.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC HARRY P. PRATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRODE FOR THERAPEUTIC BODY-WEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,306, dated July 2,1889.

Application filed March 12, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY P. PRATT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Electrodes forElectro-Therapeutic Body Appliances, of which the following is aspecification.

Of the electrodes hitherto employed in connection with electric belts,trusses, and the like electro-therapeutic body appliances those mostcommonly used have been formed of stiff metal, which is not, obviously,adapted to absorb moisture. The inflexible electrode, when used in theconnection referred to, is objectionable, for the reason that it doesnot possess the capability of conforming to the surface of the body towhich it is applied in all conditions and positions of the body, therebyto follow the surface in all shapes or conditions it may assume bymovement of the body. Owing to this lack it happens frequently that buta portion, sometimes a very small portion, of the surface of anelectrode will be in contact with the surface of the body to which it isapplied, and thus cause the entire current to pass through acomparatively small portion of the electrode, thereby increasing theresistance where it enters the bodyand tending to burn and even blisterthe surface subjected to the current.

The object of my improvement is to provide a form of electrode which mayinvolve, without inconvenience to the user, a comparatively large extentof surface, and which shall be'flexible to conform readily to thesurface of the body to which it may be applied, and which shall,further, be formed with material absorbent of moisture to enable it tobe moistened when applied to the body, thereby to increase theconductivity.

One of the purposes for which I particularly design my improvedelectrode is to at' ford a cushion to be interposed between the pad ofanelectric truss and the part of the body to which the pad is applied, andI illustrate my improvement in connection with an electric truss in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a truss having upon it asuitable electric battery with which are connected electrodes of myimproved construction; and Fig. 2 shows the electrode in its preferredform in elevation with one of the two outer layers of the chamois-skin,with which I prefer to form it, removed to display the construction ofthe metallic element I prefer to employ and which is fastened betweenthe layers. 4

A is the electrode, which I prefer to form as shown most clearly in Fig.1namely, of two rounded layers 0 and r, of flexible absorbentmaterial,(chamois-skin being the most desirable material, or one, thelayer 0, of chamois-skin, and the other r of soft leather,) sewed orotherwise fastened together and havingsecu red between them acontinuousstrip of fine woven wire 1), silver wire being preferred. A conductor qis fastened to one end of the Woven wire 19, and extends therefrom outof an opening 0 between the layers, being provided at its opposite endwith means, such as the clamp n, (though any suitable means for ormanner of producing the connection will an- 1 swer my purpose,) forconnecting it to an electric battery B, which may, and preferably does,comprise the construction set forth in Letters Patent of the UnitedStates No. 388,581, granted me on the 28th day of August, 1888, forimprovement in electric belts.

The battery B is applied to the girdle portion of a truss O, as shown,andin the same manner as it is applied to the analogous part of anelectric belt; but for a truss the electrode A, to beinterposed betweenthe trusspad m and rupture to which it is applied, should involve theform illustrated, while the other electrode, which I distinguish as A,may be formed to surround the girdle portion of the truss, as shown, butshould otherwise be constructed like the electrode illustrated in Fig.2, and it is similarly provided with means for connecting it with theopposite pole of the battery B. \Vhen used on an electric belt, however,the electrode A may comprise the form of and be applied like that (theelectrode A) shown as embracing the girdle portion.

The rounded electrode A should present a surface somewhat larger thanthat of the pad 'm, and to use it, the truss, with both electrodesconnected with the poles oifthe battery 13, is adjusted on the body of,the wearer in the usual manner, and the sides of the electrodes to comeinto contact with the body are moistened, preferably by saturating themwith water. The adjustment of the truss brings the electrode A on thegirdle portion into contact with the body, when it may, if necessary, beshifted to any desired position, as will readily be understood frominspection of Fig. l. The rounded electrode A, however,is mostconveniently applied after the truss has been adjusted, by iuterposingit between the trusspad on and rupture.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that theobjects hereinbefore stated to be accomplished by my improvement areattained, since the construction of the elect-rode presents a soft andtherefore comfortable texture to the skin, is pliable, whereby itsentire extent of surface applied to the body remains in contacttherewith, and by being saturated with moisture, wherebyit also moistensthe surface of the skin, increases its conductivity, the constructionthus also preventing injury from the effects of the current-such asburning or blistering-to the surface of the body to which it is applied.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electrode for use with electro-therapeutic body appliances andformed with flexible absorbent material, having a flexible metallicconductor secured to it, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electrode for use with electro-therapeutic body appliances, thecombinatioi'l of a layer 4", of flexible absorbent material, alayer 0",of flexible material, secured to the layer 4', an interposed flexiblemetallic conductor 1), and a conductor q, attached at one end to theconductor 1) and provided at its opposite end with means for connectingit with an electric generator, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In combination, a truss C, an electric battery B upon the truss, andelectrodes connected with the opposite poles of the battery, and eachformed with flexible absorbent material having a flexible metallicconductor 19 secured to it and from which connection of the electrodewith the battery is made, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4:. In combination, a truss 0, an electric battery 13 upon the truss, anelectrode A upon the girdle portion of the truss and compris- .ing alayer 0', of flexible absorbent material,

a layer '2', of flexible material, the said layers being securedtogether, and a flexible metallic conductor 19, interposed betweenthelayers and from which connection of the electrode with the battery ismade, and an electrode A, to be interposed and form a cushion betweenthe pad of the truss and surface of the body, and comprising a layer'7', of flexible absorbent material, a layer 0*, of flexible material,the said layers being secured together, and a H ex ible conductor 17,interposed between the layers and from which connection of the electrodewith the battery is made, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

HARRY l PRATT. In presence of .l. W. DYRENFORTII, M. J. Bown'ns.

